South Dakota Increase Alcohol Tax Initiative (2008)
From Ballotpedia
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The Increase Alcohol Tax Initiative has been proposed as an initiated state statute in South Dakota. It has been approved for circulation. If slightly over 16,000 valid signatures are collected by April 1, 2008, it is headed for the November 4, 2008 general election ballot in South Dakota.
The initiative would impact 4 areas: to increase the tax on alcoholic beverages by approximately $0.10 per drink, to dedicate the revenue from such tax increase, to create the South Dakota Teen Court Commission, and to create the South Dakota Commission on Equal Access to Our Courts.
There is some controversy surrounding the genesis of this initiative. The South Dakota Association of County Commissioners has tried in previous years to pass these measures directly through the legislature, and have failed. This time, they are bringing the matter directly to the citizens of South Dakota in the hopes that there will be enough support there to pass the measure. The controvery arises when the source is considered: should a county resource be using county resources to campaign? [1]
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Status
Failed to collect enough signatures to make the ballot.
Support
- South Dakota Association of County Commissioners
- The increase in tax revenue is expected to "raise $35 million to help pay for policing, jails, and other programs to address problems related to alcohol abuse, county officials told state lawmakers."[2]
Opposition
- Small wineries[3]
- Owners of liquor stores[4]
- "Lobbyists for the liquor industry say the proposal would unfairly tax people who drink responsibly and would cause many people to drive to other states to buy wine, beer and liquor."[5]
See also
- South Dakota 2008 ballot measures
- Petition drive deadlines in 2008
- South Dakota Initiative and Referendum Law
- South Dakota signature requirements
- Campaign finance requirements for South Dakota ballot measures
External links
- Full text of initiative
- Status of 2008 ballot measures from the South Dakota Secretary of State
- South Dakota Association of County Commissioners website
References
- ↑ Editorial: Ballot initiative might backfire for counties. Argus Leader, 1/22/08
- ↑ S.D. Lawmakers Urged to Raise Alcohol Tax to Address Related Problems News summary from Join Together, 1/15/08
- ↑ Wineries May Be Hurt on Alcohol TaxAssociated Press, 1/22/08
- ↑ Possible Alcohol Tax? MSNBC website, 1/17/08
- ↑ Senate panel kills proposed alcohol tax Associated Press, 1/16/08
